Match Details
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 11 October at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Match Overview
India and Afghanistan both experienced hiccups in their respective batting performances in Dharamsala and Chennai. Despite a shaky start, India managed to recover from a 2/3 position, chasing a target of 200 against Australia, and emerged victorious by six wickets.
On the other hand, Afghanistan couldn’t capitalize on a promising start and crumbled in the middle overs against Bangladesh’s spinners. They plummeted from 112/2 to 156 all out, eventually losing to the Tigers by six wickets.
While both teams will be aiming to enhance their batting performance, the spotlight may shift to their respective spinners. Both teams boast some of the best spin bowlers in international cricket, and they could be pivotal in the upcoming match.
Team Lineups
India
The Indian squad includes Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Afghanistan
The Afghanistan team comprises Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, and Naveen ul Haq.
Players to Watch
India: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli showcased his prowess with a stellar 85 against Australia in Chepauk. He successfully navigated the new ball threat and then tackled the turn to secure India’s first win in this World Cup.
India will be banking on the seasoned batter to continue his good form on his home ground. Given the pitch’s behavior during the South Africa-Sri Lanka match, India would benefit from an experienced player anchoring the innings while the others play aggressively. Kohli is well-positioned to fulfill this role for India in the upcoming match.
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan was unable to take any wickets during Afghanistan’s match against Bangladesh, which significantly impacted the team’s performance.
With 172 wickets at an average below 20, Rashid has been a crucial player for Afghanistan, and the team will be hoping for a top-notch performance from him against India. Given his experience playing in the Indian Premier League, Rashid is well-versed with the conditions and knows the strategies required to exploit the pitch effectively.